Street-flushing machine



8 9 l v 0 N d 8 t n 8 t a P E m H C A c6 mm Q a U .L F T E E R T S w B 60 N (Application filed Juno 3, 1897.)

' 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 6|3,9l0. Patented Nov. 8, I898. M. A. HIGH. STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 3, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETcns co. PNOTO-LITNQ.. WASHINGTON n u UNITED. STATES PATENTOFFICE.

MARTIN A. RICH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

'sT'REET-FLus-Hme MAl-HNE.

mealtimes forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,910, dated. November s,185%. Application filed June 3, 1897. Serial no; 639.216. (its model.)

To all whom it may concern/: Be it known that I, MARTIN A. RIOH, acitizen of theUnited States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of- Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Street Flushing Machines; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the inimprovement instreet-flushing wagons; and

it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The aim and purpose of this invention are to construct a flushing-wagonwhich is of sufficient length to dispense with a long line of hose andthereby obviate the labor and expense of moving this line of hose.

A further object is to provide the wagon with suitable turningmechanism, so that it can readily turn corners, and with suitableinlet-valves and outlet-nozzle and a valve for turning off the dischargeor turning the flow rearward out of the way of a'passing vehicle.

These and other objects not hereinbefore mentioned are accomplished bythe construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likefigures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views,and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedflushing-wagon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the frame detached from thesupporting wheels and axles. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of thedischarge-nozzle, three-way valve, and rear outlet-pipe; of one of theinlet-ports and cut-01f valve, part of. the frame and platform being inelevation; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the turning mechanism.

In the drawings, 1 designates the frame of the flushing-wagon, whichconsists of the central connecting portion 2, formed of a single pieceof tubing, and the end portions 3 and 4:, which are connected to theopposite ends of the tubing 2. The end portions 3 and 1 con- Fig. 4: isa detail view .sist of four pieces of tubing so arranged as to form asubstantially square structure. The portions 2, '3, and 4 consist oftubing so joined together that water entering at one end can flow to theopposite end, as hereinafter described. The'frame is supported on thewheels 5 and 6 and is braced by the trussrods 7. Both of the wheels 5and 6 are independently moved in relation to the frame by mechanismwhich can be operated by a person seated on the frame. Secured to theaxle of the rear wheel 5 is a platform 5, which has fastened to itsforward portion a notched segment 8. Meshing with this segment is agearwheel 9, all as shown in Fig. 5. This gearwheel 9 is supported by ashaft 10, which extends up above the frame and has a handwheel 11 on itsupper end, which is in operative proximity with an operator who rides onthe frame and sits on the seat 12. It will readily be seen from thisconstruction that when the operator turns the hand-wheel 11 the Wheels 5will be turned, thereby guiding the rear portion of the frame and Wagon.The front wheel 6 can also be guided by an operator on the frame.Secured to the axle of the front wheels is a plate 6, which has securedto its rear portion a notched segment 12. Meshing with this segment is agearwheel 13. This wheel is supported by a rod 14, which has on itsupper end a pulley 15. On the central portion 2 of the frame is sup-.ported a seat 19, upon which the driver is.

seated. Directly in front of this seat is a rod 17, which has ahand-wheel 18 on its upper end and on its lower end a-pulley 15.

16 is a cable connecting the pulleys 15 and 15. It will thus be seenthat when the rod 17 is turned by the operator on the seat the pulley15, rod 14:, and gear-wheel 13 will be turned, thereby turning thesegment 12 and front supporting-wheels 6.

' The supporting-wheels are of a sufficient height to allow thedraft-animals to be hitched to the wagon beneath the frame and betweenthe wheels. The draft-animals are adapted to be secured to the frame ashort distance in front of the seat 19, so that the driver can bothdrive the animals and steer the front wheels. The animals are attachedby means of a suitable tree 22, which is secured to the ally secured toone of the truss-rods 7 at 21. The front end of the rod 21 is verticallyadjustable and is held in its adjusted position by means of a pin 20'passing through apertures 20 in the depending curved rod 20, which issupported by the frame. Secured to the rear portion of the portion 3 andthe front portion of the portion 4 are the elbows 23, as shown in Fig. 2and in detail in Fig. 4. Secured to these elbows are the shortpipeseetions 24, which are provided with the turning plugs 25, for apurpose hereinafter described. 26 designates the inlet-couplings, whichare secured to the pipe-sections 24 by means of a universal joint 2'7.There are four of these inlet-couplin s, located at the opposite ends ofthe frame and at the front and rear corners, as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

Extending up from the front end of the portion 4 is a coupling 29, asshown in Fig. 3. Secured to this coupling is a pipe-section 28. 3Odesignates the outlet-nozzle, which is secured to the pipe-section 28 bymeans of the universal joint 31.

31 designates a cap-nut for the joint. The outlet-nozzle 30 is turned ineither direction by means of the handle 32, which is secured to the rearportion of the nozzle.

33 designates a pipe extending from the section 28 and in a rearwarddirection.

34 designates a three-way valve in the section 28, operated by the lever29'. It will be seen by referring to Fig. 3 that the three-way valve isshown in a position to allow the water to escape through theoutlet-nozzle 30. If it is desired to entirely stop the flow of water,the valve is given a quarter-turn, entirely stopping the fiow of water.When the flushing-wagon is passing a vehicle or is likely to frightenpassing teams, the valve is given a quarter-turn in the oppositedirection, allowing the water to escape rearward through the pipe 33.

3G designates escape-valves for draining the frame when the wagon is notin use.

35 designates a platform on which stands the operator for handling theoutlet-nozzle.

In operation a line of hose is attached to a .hydrant and to the frontof the frame at one of the inlet-couplings 26. The water is then turnedon and the wagon moved forward past the hydrant until the line of pipeis drawn tight,when the hose is detached from the front nozzle 26 andattached to the rear nozzle 26 and the wagon again moved forward untilthe hose again becomes tight, when the front nozzle is near enough to beattached to a line of pipe connected to the next hydrant on the street.It will thus be seen that by constructing the frame of this great lengththe long line of hose is dispensed with, thereby obviatin g the labor ofcarrying a long line of hose and avoiding the expense of employing extrahelp. When one of the inlet-couplings is in use, the otherinlet-couplings are closed by means of the turning plugs 25.

I am aware that many minor changes can be made in the construction andarrangement of parts without in the least departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A street-flushing wagon consisting of a frame formed of piping andhaving end portions consisting of piping forming the sides, a centralconnecting portion consisting of a single pipe, inlet-couplings for theframe and an outlet-coupling,substantially as described.

2. A street-flushing wagon consisting of a frame formed of piping,inlet-nozzles at both ends of the frame and on opposite sides thereof,joints connecting the inlet-nozzles to the frame and an outlet-nozzleswiveled at one end of the frame, substantially as described.

3. A street-flushing wagon consisting of a frame formed of piping,inlet-couplings on the frame, an outlet-coupling, a connectingpipeconnecting the outlet nozzle to the frame, an escape-pipe leading fromthe connecting-pipe and a three-way valve in the connecting-pipe adaptedto allow the escape of water through the nozzle, or through theescape-pipe or entirely shutting off the flow of water, substantially asdescribed.

4.. A street-flushing wagon consisting of a frame formed of piping,inlet-couplings at both ends of the frame and on opposite sides thereof,joints connecting the inlet-couplings to the frame, turning plugs foreach inletcoupling, an outlet-coupling swiveled at one end of the frameand a controlling-valve for the outlet coupling, substantially asdescribed.

5. A street-flushing wagon consisting of a frame formed of piping,inlet-couplings at both ends of the frame and on opposite sides thereof,universal joints connecting the inletcouplings to the frame, turningplugs for each inlet-coupling, an outlet-coupling swiveled at one end ofthe frame, a controlling-valve for the outlet-nozzle, and anoperating-handle connected to the outlet-nozzle.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN A. RICH.

Vitnesses:

ELLEN Runs, KITTIE

